Hamas agrees to release Israeli hostages, hand over Gaza's administration in response to Trump's peace plan
Hamas announced on Friday that it has submitted its response to U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza peace proposal to regional and international mediators, saying it has agreed in principle to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased.
In a press statement, the Palestinian armed group also agreed to transfer the administration of Gaza to a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, formed through national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic countries.
According to the statement, other issues raised in the U.S. proposal concerning Gaza's future and the broader rights of the Palestinian people would be addressed within a collective Palestinian framework, in line with relevant international laws and resolutions.
Trump sets Sunday deadline for Hamas to accept 20-point peace plan on Gaza
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Hamas must accept the 20-point peace plan on Gaza by 6 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Sunday, otherwise "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas."
Trump said on Truth Social that Hamas will be given "one last chance," adding that "nations of the Middle East, and the surrounding areas beyond, together with the United States of America, have agreed, with Israel signing on, to PEACE, after 3000 years, in the Middle East."
He also urged Palestinians to immediately leave areas of great danger and move to safer parts of Gaza. "Everyone will be well cared for by those that are waiting to help."
Israeli navy takes over last boat of Gaza-bound aid flotilla
The Israeli navy intercepted the last vessel of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News channel reported.
The Marinette vessel departed late due to a technical fault, making it the last in the flotilla to be intercepted after Israel halted all other vessels from approaching the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
The channel said the ship was seized by Israel's special naval unit Shayetet 13 and released video footage of commandos boarding the vessel.
Iran says comprehensive partnership agreement with Russia takes effect
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Tehran and Moscow came into effect on Thursday, said Iran's Foreign Ministry.
The agreement was signed by Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in Moscow on Jan. 17, and the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the signing was indicative of the determination of the two countries' leaders to deepen and strengthen bilateral relations.
The treaty marked a turning point in the history of the two countries' bilateral relations and marked the improvement of the level of friendly ties in different areas of mutual interest, said the Iranian ministry.
UN condemns Israeli grenade attacks near peacekeepers in southern Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Friday condemned Israeli grenade attacks near its peacekeepers and Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon, calling them a serious violation of UN Security Council resolution 1701.
In a statement, UNIFIL said that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drones on Thursday dropped several grenades near peacekeepers who were working alongside Lebanese soldiers to protect civilian workers clearing the rubble of homes destroyed in the conflict in the border village of Maroun al-Ras.
At around 11:30 a.m. (0830 GMT), peacekeepers at two separate locations heard a grenade explode near an excavator about 500 meters away. Minutes later, one group saw a drone overhead and witnessed an explosion 30 to 40 meters away. About 20 minutes after that, another group reported a grenade dropped by a drone exploding only 20 meters above their heads, according to the statement.
U.S. government shutdown drags into weekend as Senate Democrats block GOP plan
U.S. Senate Democrats on Friday blocked a Republican bill to temporarily fund the government, which means the government shutdown will likely last through the weekend.
The bill was voted on a largely party-line 54-44 for a fourth time, with the same three Senate Democratic members joining most Republicans in backing the bill.
The two sides continued to trade accusations, blaming the other side for the shutdown.■
